Least Restrictive Environment

 In the education world, there is something called the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The LRE is not necessarily a physical location, rather it is a concept that guides the education of students with special needs. The LRE is determined by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that is developed by a team of educators and the student’s parents/guardians who review the strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the student and consider the educational benefits from placement in a particular educational setting. Three of the most common types of LREs are the general education classroom with pull-out, push-in, or other supports; the partial mainstream/inclusion classroom; and the self-contained special education classroom, but many students fall on a spectrum somewhere between the three. The goal is for every student to be with his/her peers as much as possible, as long as they are in an environment where they can safely learn both academic and social skills.

 

For many students, the Least Restrictive Environment for lunch, recess, and enrichment classes is with regular education peers. What this means for me is that all of my students are mainstreamed into a regular education classroom for music so that they are exposed to music concepts that are on grade level…BUT…this year, it also means that some of my self-contained students receive an extra music class geared specifically toward them.  

 

But I know this: I saw my students’ faces light up and their bodies begin to move in pure happiness when the music started. Their teacher said it was the happiest she’d seen them and beamed with love and pride as she watched them march around the room playing their sticks. For those moments, they were totally in their element—not restricted—and learning. And for those moments, I got to be part of something beautiful.

 

Dear God: Thank you for music. And thank you for educational policies that ensure that all students, regardless of race, socio-economic status, academic ability, or physical ability, receive a free and appropriate public education. Thank you for public education, for how it transforms lives, and for giving teachers the ability to influence lives in a positive way. Guide us, as teachers, as we seek to create Least Restrictive Environments for all who walk into our classrooms and help us to make a difference where we are. Give us wisdom when we don’t know what we’re doing and give us strength when what we’re doing is hard. Grant us rest today, on this Labor Day, and fill us with everything we need to return to the classroom tomorrow. We can do this together, God. Amen.